An Expansion Packed with Japanese Traditional Instrument Samples [CONCRETE SUN]

A Sound Package for Producing Tracks Full of Japanese Atmosphere

"CONCRETE SUN," an Expansion from Native Instruments that went on sale recently.

It packages the sounds of the latest hip-hop culture from Japan and is already making waves in many circles.

We had the opportunity to try this product, so we want to briefly share its overview and appeal.

Each Expansion product is a package that expands the sounds of MASCHINE and other Native Instruments products, and there are various products for different genres and concepts.

CONCRETE SUN was produced with a focus on Japanese hip-hop culture, and it is characterized by sounds that carry the atmosphere of the 1990s and a wide variety of samples of Japanese traditional instruments.

CONCRETE SUN Introduction Video

Product Features

First, let's look in detail at the content included in the product.

CONCRETE SUN includes

• 8 MASCHINE project files
• 426 drum samples
• 292 loop samples
• 353 one-shot samples
• BATTERY 4 presets
• MASSIVE presets
• MONARK presets
• REAKTOR 6 presets

These are included, but its biggest feature is surely that it contains a wide variety of samples of traditional Japanese instruments.

It comes with one-shot and loop samples of all kinds of sounds heard in traditional Japanese music: percussion such as kagura bells and kotsuzumi, of course, plus a variety of Japanese instruments such as shinobue and koto, and vocal calls heard in Noh theater and elsewhere.

Samples and instruments of Japanese instruments like these can be found in other products too, but ethnic instruments with strong character are hard to blend into songs.

In that respect, another nice point is that the Japanese instrument samples in CONCRETE SUN have various effects processing applied in advance, so you can use them in your songs right away.

Can I Use It Without Owning MASCHINE?

Expansions contain plenty of audio one-shots and audio loops (both in WAV format), so they can be used as ordinary audio samples in various DAWs and samplers.

You can check where the samples are stored from Native Access's Preferences, so you can access the sounds directly from your file browser.

Also, the MASCHINE software can be used as a standalone DAW and also launches as a plug-in in each DAW, so you can incorporate it into your current production environment even without owning the hardware.

A Song Contest Judged by the CONCRETE SUN Producers Is Underway (Until 9/25)

A song contest using CONCRETE SUN is currently being held on [Metapop], an online platform for music creators.

EXPANSION – CONCRETE SUN Production Contest

The linked page is in English; the details are as follows.

Entry Deadline

Until September 25, 2022

Contest Overview

Welcome to the official production challenge for Native Instruments' latest Expansion, CONCRETE SUN.

Hip-hop crosses borders and is interpreted in many ways around the world. CONCRETE SUN pays tribute to Japanese hip-hop culture, blending 1990s aesthetics, carefully selected gear and a wealth of Japanese instruments.

For this contest, the Expansion's creators, SPIN MASTER A-1, Phennel Koliander and DJ RENA, will serve as judges. You can also watch a video explaining the background and features of this Expansion here.

Create a track at least two minutes long using at least two of the provided loops.

When it is finished, upload your entry and tell us which loops you used. Any genre or style is welcome. (You may also use your own sounds if you hold the rights to them.)

SPIN MASTER A-1, Phennel Koliander and DJ RENA will listen to every entry and choose the winners based on creativity and technical skill.

Good luck, everyone! Metapop — We connect music makers.

Entry Requirements

• Create a track at least two minutes long.
• Do not use material you do not hold the rights to
• Use at least two of the provided loops
• Be prepared to present a project file proving that you used the original sounds and the provided presets.
• One entry per person. You can upload an improved version by pressing the gear icon next to the track name.

Great prizes are also available for the winners of the contest, as follows.

This contest is judged directly by the Expansion's creators, so if you want people to hear your own songs or want to try making a song with Japanese instruments, why not take part?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is MASCHINE hardware required to use CONCRETE SUN?

No, it is not. The audio samples (WAV format) can be used in other DAWs and samplers. Also, the MASCHINE software runs as a standalone DAW or as a plug-in, so you can incorporate it into your production environment without the hardware.

Q2. Can the Japanese instrument samples in CONCRETE SUN be used as they are?

Yes. Ethnic instruments with strong character are usually hard to blend into songs, but this product's samples have effects processing applied in advance, so you can use them in practical song production right away.

Q3. What is needed to enter the contest currently being held?

You must create a track at least two minutes long, use at least two of the provided loops, and present a project file. The entry deadline is September 25, 2022; the producers, including SPIN MASTER A-1, judge the entries, and the winners receive prizes such as KOMPLETE 13.